Hey there DEV.to community!
Edit: I had to write this edit since I'm getting lots of negative comments. This article wasn't supposed to be hateful or condemning Bootstrap. This is only about the things I think Bootstrap lacks in. Please accept my apology in advance if you feel insulted or this article gives you bad feelings.
Edit 2: Since lots of comments warned about my bad title picking ability. (XD) I changed the title from 'Please avoid Bootstrap!' to 'What are some alternatives for Bootstrap?'. I hope this post doesn't get the most hated DEV.to post in the past 7 days. XD
Well, actually I was thinking about writing this article a while ago but I was afraid of the reactions that I might get. Anyway, I decided to do it and I hope you enjoy this article.
DISCLAIMER: This article is based on my own perspective and I DO NOT force it on anyone. I neither created Bootstrap nor sponsored by any others to write this article. (Well I'm not that famous to be sponsored anyway LOL)
Why do I not like Bootstrap?
Well, the best thing to start with would be why I don't like Bootstrap.
The same look over and over
First things first are that almost 90% of Bootstrap using websites look exactly the same. Although this can be changed, usually designers don't bother with such options so they use the default look and theme.
You can search Google and see all discussions about this thing with lots of samples.
Not that much modern-looking
Second thing is that Bootstraps look isn't that polished. It was for a time but I believe now the design pattern is changed and bootstrap is kind of behind.
Not supporting RTL
Well, this can be situational and not all designers would use this but still, it is a problem that might irritate some middle-eastern based countries' designers.
Something extra: When I was choosing to learn a CSS framework Bootstrap wasn't supporting flex containers so this was another reason I started avoiding Bootstrap at that time. Which now it does support Flex since version 4 I believe.
Have I ever tried Bootstrap?
For those who might say: "Adnan if you tried Bootstrap for once, you would love it." I have to say: "I designed lots of websites using Bootstrap due to the clients' demand"
So basically YES I tried Bootstrap.
What do I use then?
Since I'm not using Bootstrap it doesn't mean that I code the whole CSS by myself (It is ridiculous).
I have some tools in order to get my projects done.
Zurb Foundation
Foundation is my go-to framework. I love using it since I'm pretty much fluent in it and it provides very good SASS/SCSS compatibility and a very rich customization system.
Zurb Foundation is the most advanced CSS framework I believe.
The only down point that Foundation can have is its incompatibility with Webpack which you cannot import Foundation's JavaScript library to a bundle.
Semantic UI
Semantic UI is the most polished-looking and modern-feeling framework ever I believe.
It is so beautiful and elegant that you would fall in love with it.
Semantic UI has full compatibility with React which I enjoyed using and also almost complete compatibility with Vue. If you don't want to use it as a component and only as a normal CSS framework in Vue or React it has no boundaries and by compatibility, I only mean component-based library for this framework.
Tailwind CSS
Tailwind is one of the newest CSS frameworks out in the development world and it's gaining lots of attention recently.
I started using Tailwind recently and I can say it can be my next go-to framework since it aims at rapid development and, to be honest, it has reached this goal I believe.
Tailwind is a little bit different than other frameworks since it is a utility-first framework as they say and it provides you to design your own look rather than a default look.
Tell me if you are using other CSS frameworks or why you love Bootstrap in the comments section below.
Oldest comments (80)
The reason I don't use Bootstrap is that it goes against everything semantic. Tailwind, however, is way worse.
Hmmm. Interesting reason, and now I think you are pretty right about it.
Good points and alternatives!
A big reason Bootstrap was invented and adopted was because of the grid.
Now with CSS Grid I think these libraries are less useful. Especially once we have wide subgrid support.
Hi
Thanks for your comment.
Ues of course but I still believe using frameworks would actually help us even nowadays.
I agree with almost everything you are saying, but I won't say that everyone should avoid it. I think bootstrap can be really useful to learn UI principles ( Or at least that was my case) Also thank you for posting about Semantic UI, I did't know about that framework.
Hi
Thanks for your comment.
Actually I think if people start learning web design with Bootstrap or even other frameworks they won't have the ability to understand the CSS properly, at least for a long time.
And yes Semantic UI is incredible.
This is me, which is why i'm trying to improve now my CSS skills. I've though back then if i can do Bootstrap, I am great. Lol what a newbie thinking. Though it is still good on some cases.
Don't all CSS frameworks have a default look and need to be grokked at to customize? The purpose of Bootstrap is to abstract-out the low-level nitty-gritties of CSS for Devs who are not CSS experts/Front end engineers, but need to deliver someting professional looking. And it is amazingly successful in this space. Thats why the popularity. It may come as a shock to some, but a majority of people working in Enterprise space don't really care about FlexBox/CSS transistions and what not. Bootstrap comes to the rescue here and does its job really well.
Tailwind should not be called a framework at all as it does not abstract out anything.
Hi
Thanks for your comment. You have good points of view that I might missed.
Thanks again for sharing this wit us.
As a mostly part-time programmer, full-time server administrator, there are times when I just need a simple page that gets data from an API or something for internal uses. Bootstrap fits the purpose perfectly, and it takes me less than an hour to make a decent UI for my purpose.
What's the point of this article? If you're developing a website with unique design, you absolutely don't need a bootstrap now (grid/flexbox does it's job), but if you're doing an admin ui, or simple local web-service, why shouldn't i use bootstrap?
Hi
Thanks for your comment.
I actually mentioned my reasons.
Anyways this was my own opinion to avoid Bootstrap.
Why is the title of this article alarmingly telling everyone "Please avoid bootstrap!" and then in the 2nd paragraph you have a disclaimer stating it's just your opinion and shouldn't be forced on anyone.
Maybe a better idea would be not to use such a clickbait-y title in the first place, such as "Reasons I dislike Bootstrap", then you wouldn't be obliged to include a disclaimer in the first place.
You were probably afraid of the reactions you might get because deep down you know this isn't the right way to draw attention to yourself
Hi
Thanks for your comment.
I actually had no intention of click baiting people and drag them here. I was kind of afraid of the reactions and I mentioned it at the beginning.
Anyways please accept my apology if I cause you any inconvenience.
Hey, no worries. Don't worry about causing me inconvenience - I don't personally care much but a lot of people on the internet do. So it's just advice to help you maintain a higher quality for your personal brand :)
Thanks for the advice
I like tailwind and bulmacss.
Regarding tailwindcss, it's a bit tricky to setup in webpack. I think they need to create more examples on configuration.
Hi
Thanks for your comment.
It will get better by time
In the real world, many business cases dictate that the design isn't as important as the functionality.
I've seen many companies use bootstrap for backend portals for internal use only. You don't need a flashy design, it just has to be functional.
Maybe you're a startup with limited funding and time, building a minimal viable product in the hope to gain investment. Bootstrap can be a useful tool to throw together a layout.
Hi
Thanks for your comment
In that case, yes, Bootstrap can buy you a lot of time in development as well as other frameworks.
For me no framework is the best framework. Usually what you end up using mostly from these is the grid system. With flex and grid in CSS I don't feel the need for a grid system anymore. Usually the components being shipped are not being used 1:1 so you end up customizing/overriding the styles where you can waste just as much time as defining your own styles. In most cases and on big scale projects it's just simply not worth to go the CSS FW route. In case you need a fast UI for some admin interface, than go for it.
Thanks for your comment.
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